The origins of the Unión del Pueblo Navarro (1979-1991)

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to contribute to the understanding of the origins and the first organizational changes made by the Unión del Pueblo Navarro (UPN). In this sense, the article tries to establish whether the UPN is closer to the electoral-professional party model emerged in Europe’s third wave of democratization, or to the mass party model that traditionally has characterized most regionalist parties. The conclusions shows how the important role of party leadership, the quick access to the institutions and the fragile party strength during the firsts years set the UPN closer to the electoral-professional party model.